Tag Archives: instruction

Hi! For those of you who have followed me (and I thank you kindly!) I want you to know that I have been in a dilemma of where to take my blog. For those of you who don’t know me, I started Alaska Locker Hooking in 1999 with locker hooking and in 2005 I got into crocheting with fabric and making rugs and crocheted felted wool bowls. I started my Etsy Shopwhere I still sell my locker hooking and crochet epatterns. And somewhere in there, I was also making my “Alaskan Stuffies”! I still crochet and felt bowls and sell them every year at the Arts & Crafts Emporium Holiday Show, at a booth a that I share with my artist husband!

As you follow my posts, you will see that in the summer of 2014, I fell in love with Zentangle® Art and became a CZT (Certified Zentangle® Teacher), November 2014 and I have been teaching Zentangle® classes at Blaines Art Supplyever since. I have decided to continue this blog but changed the the name to: “Donna Jacobson, CZT Blog”. It will include everything I do!

Hi! It is really hard for me to believe it has been one year today when I was in Providence, Rhode Island, at CZT Seminar 17. After 4 days of intense instruction, I graduated and received my Certified Zentangle® Teacher certificate from Maria Thomas and Rick Roberts. It was one of the biggest days of my life! It was absolutely magical! I learned so much and made so many wonderful friends who I still stay in contact with. Zentangle® has changed my life, it has given me life! Being the agoraphobic that I am, I still shake my head that I really did it because it is very hard for me to even leave my house most of the time. I wanted so much to get a beautiful photo of Maria giving me my certificate and all I got was this…and I could NOT stop crying and saying “I did it, I did it, I really did it!”Maria, being the beautiful person that she is, handled it well! I’m also still amazed at that person who could not draw at all, now draws beautiful art and I am excited about teaching and sharing the Zentangle® Method™!

So much has happened in this past year! It’s been hard and yet wonderful! My goal was to teach Zentangle® Workshops at Blaines Art Supply (the only art supply store besides Michaels) in Anchorage, Alaska. When I got home I interviewed and got the job but it was one of the hardest interviews I’ve ever had and having been an RN in the past, I’ve had some tough interviews. Working for Blaines Art, of course I promote their products, but the problem was they didn’t have the Zentangle® supplies I needed (supplies I had learned from seminar). Not being able to use Zentangle® products was a challenge and I had to reevaluate and rethink everything. It stopped in my tracts at first but I’ve learned to be open and flexible because there are great art products out there. I’ve been teaching classes there now since January and everything has worked out just fine.

It’s been hard for me because there was only one CZT in my town and she doesn’t teach classes and I cannot turn to her for support. So I am on my own. Fortunately I have the support of my Zentangle® family in Providence and other online CTZ’s. My first class was January 9, 2015 and I was scared to death but my love for Zentangle® is so strong, that I did it! I think I had about 12 students and they were all so nice 🙂 We did 2 tiles and learned 8 tangles. After that class, I had many students asking me,“now what??”I knew exactly how they were feeling because after my first class with a CZT I said the same thing and wanted to continue learning more and to tangle with others…it’s all about the process and the enjoyment of being relaxed, “in the moment”, and being with others who speak the same Zentangle® language. The end result is always beautiful art. So my wonderful boss at Arctic Rose Gallery offered me the space to have monthly Zentangle® Social Meetups! Yes fantastic!! Better yet, we gather on Sunday when the gallery is closed and is quiet 🙂 Perfect for the “Zen”! The meetups have been so rewarding and fun and lovely friendships formed! And one of my students from my first class even went on to seminar and became a CZT!

I have so much I want to share with you! I’m going to try to catch you up to the present and hopefully before 2016!
❤ Donna Continue reading →

Hi! I’ve recently returned from Providence, Rhode Island. I know, pretty amazing for me! Those who know me, know that sometimes I can’t even get out of my house 🙂 It happened very suddenly when I got a newsletter from zentangle.com that there were 4 open seminar spaces available…first come, first served! This was my dream, to go to seminar to become a Certified Zentangle® Teacher but I figured I would have to wait until 2015 (it’s very hard to get in!). I would be trained by the founders of Zentangle®, Maria Thomas and Rick Roberts. Well a long story shortened…I emailed but the 4 spaces were already filled and I was #15 on a waiting list. I was so disappointed to think I almost had a shot of getting in!

About two days later I get another email and I GOT IN!! That is, if I could fly to Providence, RI, and find a hotel in less than a week! The seminar is at the Providence Hotel but they were booked solid. Before I knew it I was on a plane and off to become a Certified Zentangle® Teacher! No time to think how terrifiedI was to fly and fly so far from home for 6 days. I’m talking about Alaska to Rhode Island! It took me all day to get there, starting at 3:30am (Sat)and finally got to bed at 4:00am the next day (Sun).

But I did it! I made it to Providence only to find out they did not have a room for me! Yes, NO ROOM!! I had a total meltdown (and I mean it was bad!) and was driven across town to another hotel. I had absolutely no idea where I was or who I was with. They fortunately came back to get me the next day (I was crossing my fingers that they would!). I emailed Martha (Maria’s daughter) to let her know what happened and checked into the seminar that evening. I stayed at Biltmore that night, alone and scared.

The next morning (Mon) after the morning class, Martha took me aside and said there was a vacancy at Providence Hotel and they were working on getting me over there with everyone else. OMG! I was soooooo excited, so relieved, so grateful, so exhausted!From then on I had the most FANTASTIC and AMAZING time! It was like I was living in a magical dream-world filled with beautiful tangles and warm and wonderful people. Maria Thomas and Rick Roberts and their entire Zentangle® family were unbelievably so kind and giving.

Me, Maria Thomas, and Rick Roberts

I met so many people from around the world. We had 13 countries and 22 students from Taiwan who became my friends (kneehow). I had so much fun and learned sooooo much!

When I got back, Blaines Art Store asked me to teach Zentangle® classes and I start in January 2015 (another dream come true!). I can hardly wait!!!! I am now a Certified Zentangle® Teacher!

Hi! I have a lot of fabric! And I really mean A LOT! So what do I do with my fabric scraps? I LOCKER HOOK my scraps into functional and awesome things that I can use or give as gifts 🙂 I also crochet with my scraps (that’s another subject).

What in the world is LOCKER HOOKING, you say?

It is a long forgotten art, an “old rug hooking technique” thought to have originated in England in the early 1900’s. There’s very little documented history about it. Locker hooking uses a locker hook, which looks like a 6.5 inch long steel metal crochet hook with a LARGE needle ‘eye’ on the other end (to thread the yarn through). Also used, is latch hook rug canvas, yarn, and fabric strips (or thick yarn or wool roving).

Locker Hook

Inserting Locker Hook into First Square

The locker hook needle ‘eye’ is threaded with yarn and from the top of the canvas the hook is pushed through a square (with one hand), and from below the canvas a fabric strip is wrapped around the hook part (with other hand) and pulled back up through the same square to the top of the canvas again, making a fabric loop. Keeping the loop on your locker hook, you continue to pull up fabric loops until you have about 10 loops on the locker hook. Then...the locker hook and yarn are pulled through ALL the loops, thus “locking the loops in place”.…. And that is it!

What do you use the scraps for, you say?

Well, you can locker hook all kinds of awesome things like rugs, wall hangings, blankets, clothing, baskets, bags & purses, pillows, lots of home decor, personal accessories, and much more!Anything your imagination can dream of! In 1999, I wrote and self-published a book entitled, Locker Hooking With Fabric Strips,which has tons of examples and ideas, along with teaching you how to locker hook. Right now I’m updating the book and one of my 2014 goals is to get it out there as an ebook THIS YEAR!

Locker Hooking With Fabric Strips Book

Where are my scraps, you say?

Let me show you a few out of the book that are very easy to do, have instructions, and you can do them too!

Locker Hooked Patchwork Quilt Block Rug

Locker Hooked Frame

Locker Hooked Rag Rug

More locker hooking to come 🙂 In the mean time, available is my Beginning Locker Hooking Kit with an instructional booklet, canvas, steel locker hook, steel tapestry needle, and “Mug Rug” Pattern. All you need is the yarn and fabric! Oh, and you can purchase just the book if you want 🙂 For more information and shopping go to my website www.lockerhooking.com 🙂

Hi! We just recently wrapped up our Finally Friday Paint & Stitch Get-togethers! Jake and I have been hosting these gatherings all winter long and now will take a summer break and come back in October. Every month, on the 2nd & 4th Friday evenings, people from the community who share common painting & stitching interests gathered at the Arctic Rose Gallery & Art Center, downtown 5th Ave, Anchorage, Alaska. It’s a beautiful Art Gallery and so cozy in the back where we meet. Thank youJana for letting us get together there! So Jake’s (Kurt) the painter and I”m the stitcher.

Our First Gathering

It’s been a lot of hard work but soooo much fun and rewarding! Almost every gathering we’ve had different people come and join us along with a small core group that formed. We also have a potluck and that has been really nice because we start at 6pm and many come straight from work and we all share our goodies together while unwinding from the hectic week. We all share our talents too and I’ve learned so much and made friends.

I saw painters who started as beginners become experienced and awesome painters! I saw crocheters who began to knit! I saw friendships develop and blossom! I’ve known some of the people for a long time but got to know them better. The buzz was always “what are we going to bring to eat and work on this week?” I saw the excitement each time we all came together, excited to share and learn. I have a hard time around people (I fake it pretty good) but everyone made each other comfortable and was accepting of each other. Even though we were all different ages, we were like one big family! It was so wonderful to experience that! I love each one of them.

We even shared things that we made, like I bought a beautiful pair of earrings from Cathe! And Nicole brought handmade felted soap! Jan and Joni bought some of Jake’s paintings and Angie showed her cute crocheted baby onesie & hat sets along with her Angry Bird hats she sold at Christmas. We all watched Sarah work on her darling crocheted mushroom until she completed it. Funny, I never did really complete anything because I always got side tracked looking at everyone else’s projects:)

The last Friday the stitchers convinced me to show them how to locker hook and before I knew it I had a FULL class! I honestly wasn’t prepared for a class….thought it was just going to be a demo! But everyone, having stitching experience whether it was knitting, crochet, tatting, felting, weaving, embroidery, jewelry, sewing, and etc. all caught on fast. It was a great class and I am so proud of them:)

I know we are going to miss our Friday gatherings but it always seems that when spring & summer come we all are out doing other things. In Alaska we take advantage of the good weather! But we will all come together again in October and share more projects, fun, food, laughter, and friendships. Hope everyone has a great summer and Jake and I can’t wait to see you in October!

Hi, I teach crochet and locker hooking classes at Jo-Ann Fabrics & Crafts in So. Anchorage (Dimond Blvd). This is an older store but has been remodeled recently and they built a NEW CLASSROOM! I’m really excited about this store and the opportunity to teach again! Now both Jo-Anns in town offer classes!

Every month or two Jo-Ann holds an “Open House” where all the teachers come together and we promote our classes and people are free to ask us questions and sign up for classes (plus they can get a discount that day!). We have one coming up this Saturday, 2-11-2012. It’s a lot of fun! We usually have other demos going on too. Part of my responsibility is to make and show samples of class projects which are being offered and are coming up on the calender. It’s like “show & tell” and I love it! I really enjoy talking to the people and many of them I know or know me BUT they don’t know we offer classes NOW!!

One of the classes that is being offered is the crocheted Baby Blossom Hat and I thought you might enjoy a sneak preview! It’s easy and I had a blast making it. Don’t you think these are absolutely adorable!!